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Daniels Igoni, Yenagoa.
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has congratulated the state-sponsored football club, Bayelsa United, for emerging champions of the Group B2 Southern Conference of the 2021/22 Nigerian National League.
Bayelsa United defeated Cynosure of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 2-0 on Saturday at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, to seal their promotion back to the elite league seven years after dropping out of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
Diri, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Sunday, said after several close attempts, Bayelsa United eventually gained the much-sought promotion back to the NPFL.
He commended the resilience and dedication of the players, as well as the commitment of the coach Diepreye Teibowei-led technical crew, saying they had again brought pride to the state.
The governor also praised the club chairman, Ebiki Timitimi, and other board members for their focus in ensuring that they delivered on his charge to them.
He recalled that like in 2021, when the state recorded a double in the victory of Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens in the male and female categories of the AITEO/FA Cup, both teams have again won their respective leagues this year.
Diri said his administration’s investment in sports and human capacity development was no fluke, as evident in the performance and achievements of the state in sports in the last two-and-a-half years.
He stressed that the investments were geared toward positively engaging youths of the state and urged them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities created by the government.
Prior to the decisive game, the Governor visited the team in training on Thursday and charged the players to ensure victory.
He promised to double their match bonuses and host them to a dinner afterwards.